The Philippines Takes a Bold Step Towards 30x30 with Panaon Island Protection
A Major Win for Marine Conservation in the Philippines
The Philippines is making waves with their latest conservation milestone. The country has recently declared more than 60,000 hectares of ocean surrounding Panaon Island a Protected Seascape — an area larger than Singapore. This landmark decision brings the Philippines one step closer to reaching their commitment to safeguard 30% of land and water by 2030. This goal, known as 30 X 30, is to protect at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas and coastal and marine areas by 2030, as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
As we prepare to celebrate the upcoming World Tourism Day 2025, the move to safeguard this area is especially relevant given this year’s theme: Tourism and Sustainable Transformation. As Reef-World continues to strive towards eliminating the negative impacts of marine tourism on coral reefs and the marine environment, we are thrilled to see the conservation agenda on a global and local stage.
Panaon Island: A Coral Paradise Worth Protecting
Panaon Island sits strategically above the heart of the Coral Triangle—the "Amazon of the Ocean" — one of Earth's most biodiverse marine regions. This Protected Seascape serves as a critical corridor along the migration route of endangered whale sharks, but its importance extends far beyond these gentle giants.
This key corridor of marine life is also extremely resilient to the impacts of climate change. Since 2023, record-high sea temperatures around the globe have caused the most extreme coral bleaching events ever documented. Coral bleaching is the process of algae that live symbiotically in the coral abandoning the coral because of extremely stressful environmental conditions, typically from high water temperatures. This leaves the coral exposed and vulnerable to disease and decay as they rely on the algae to survive.
Despite the overall decline in the health of coral reefs in the Philippines due to climate change and other threats, a 2020 expedition led by the ocean conservation nonprofit, Oceana, found Panaon Island’s waters to be exceptionally healthy. Coral reefs in the Philippines, and elsewhere, are at risk from rising sea temperatures and yet Panaon Island’s reefs have thus far been unaffected by the changing climate.
However, the expedition also revealed ongoing challenges. Over three weeks of research, the team regularly encountered plastic pollution and evidence of destructive fishing practices—threats that make legal protection even more crucial.
A law recently approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will guarantee the protection of more than 200 square miles of “an area known as a vital corridor for marine mammals”, according to Oceana’s Nikka Oquias. Our partners at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be shortly enforcing this regulation.
World Tourism Day 2025: Tourism and Sustainable Transformation
Reef-World is especially excited about this year’s theme for World Tourism Day: Sustainable Transformation. Promoting sustainable tourism is vital for the health and wealth of our ocean, and we welcome the transformative power of tourism to address societal and environmental issues. Through responsible governance, investment in education and a commitment to a sustainable form of prosperity, tourism has the potential to drive forward positive change in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Through our programmes, such as Green Fins, Reef-World supports eco-friendly marine tourism operators who are committed to protecting biodiversity, mitigating their environmental impact, and informing visitors about the importance of sustainable marine tourism. Developed in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, Green Fins provides a global industry benchmark for sustainable marine tourism and a code of conduct. With over 30 Green Fins Members in the Philippines alone, we are proud to support sustainable transformation. However, we aim to build on this fantastic number and increase both the number of members and the quality of their work.
Future of Marine Tourism
Whilst this announcement is a chance to celebrate the progress we are making towards 30 X 30, a key goal to ensure the protection of life underwater, we are a long way away from the finish line. With certain bad actors using their tremendous powers to allow unprecedented freedom to extract and damage our oceans, we must double our efforts to protect the future of aquatic life.
The Philippines' commitment to sustainable tourism as a vehicle for conservation, prosperity, and equality gives us hope. Through the Green Fins programme, every dive operation and every tourist can make a conscious choice to support positive change.
So next time you plan a trip away, whether to visit our fishy friends or stay dry on land, it is important to consider how to act sustainably. We want people like you to join our movement and support Green Fins to make sustainable diving the norm!